J.P. Morgan has sharply lowered its projections for the global stablecoin market, forecasting that the total value of stablecoins in circulation will only reach $500 billion by 2028.

The estimate, released Thursday, counters far more bullish forecasts by other market watchers, including Standard Chartered and Bernstein, who see the stablecoin market growing as high as $2 trillion and even $4 trillion over the next decade.

In a note to investors, J.P. Morgan analysts said expectations that stablecoins would revolutionize mainstream payments are “far too optimistic,” pointing to persistent structural challenges, limited real-world use cases, and a lack of regulatory clarity as key obstacles.

“The idea that stablecoins will replace traditional money for everyday use is still far from reality,” the brokerage firm stated.

Limited Real-World Use

According to J.P. Morgan, stablecoin usage remains heavily concentrated within the crypto ecosystem. The bank estimates that only 6% of current demand—about $15 billion—is related to payments, while the overwhelming majority of stablecoins are still being used in crypto trading, decentralized finance (DeFi), and as collateral on exchanges.

That puts a ceiling on their current utility in broader financial markets. “Payments adoption is minimal,” the analysts noted, adding that the notion of stablecoins overtaking traditional money remains “speculative at best.”

The report pegs the current stablecoin market size at around $250 billion—halfway to its 2028 projection. That figure aligns with data from blockchain analytics platforms, which track the combined market capitalization of top stablecoins such as Tether (USDT), USD Coin (USDC), and DAI.

A Stark Contrast with Bullish Forecasts

J.P. Morgan’s conservative view contrasts sharply with earlier predictions. Standard Chartered in May said the market could grow to $2 trillion by 2028 if stablecoins are increasingly used for remittances, digital payments, and smart contracts. Bernstein, in a note dated June 30, projected the market could hit $4 trillion within the next 10 years—assuming regulatory clarity and adoption by banks and fintechs accelerate.

Those optimistic forecasts have been fueled by developments such as the U.S. Senate’s passage of the GENIUS Act, a bipartisan bill designed to provide a regulatory framework for stablecoins. Analysts have touted the bill as a potential catalyst for greater investment and adoption of stablecoins in payment systems, settlement rails, and cross-border transfers.

But J.P. Morgan is urging caution. It says the GENIUS Act, while a step forward, has yet to translate into real-world use or regulatory alignment across key jurisdictions.

Regulatory Uncertainty, Global Competition

Beyond the U.S., global competition and regulatory fragmentation continue to slow adoption. In June, China’s central bank reaffirmed its commitment to expanding the international use of the digital yuan (e-CNY), the country’s central bank digital currency (CBDC). Beijing sees e-CNY as a strategic alternative to dollar-based stablecoins, especially for cross-border trade and Belt and Road economies.

Meanwhile, Chinese fintech giant Ant Group—an affiliate of Alibaba—said last month it would seek a license to issue stablecoins through its Hong Kong-based arm, Ant International. The move underscores growing interest in stablecoin issuance from established players in the digital payments space.

Still, J.P. Morgan downplayed the potential impact of both e-CNY and platforms like Alipay and WeChat Pay as models for global stablecoin growth.

“Neither the rapid expansion of e-CNY nor the success of Alipay and WeChat Pay represent templates for stablecoin expansion in the future,” the firm said.

Market Focus Remains Crypto-Native

For now, the stablecoin market remains mostly crypto-native. Tether (USDT), the largest stablecoin, dominates trading volumes and reserves, despite persistent concerns over transparency and reserve audits. USD Coin (USDC), backed by U.S.-based Circle, has tried to position itself as the more regulated and transparent option, but even it has seen usage fluctuate amid market volatility and U.S. banking sector risks.

J.P. Morgan noted that while stablecoins have appeal as digital cash equivalents, their ability to displace traditional payments is constrained by:

• Low or no yield for holders,
• Regulatory risk,
• Limited merchant acceptance,
• Poor on/off ramp infrastructure for converting to and from Fiat,
• And the dominance of well-established real-time payment systems in countries like India, Brazil, and China.

The firm’s $500 billion estimate reflects a more cautious but realistic trajectory for stablecoins. Growth will likely continue but at a moderate pace, concentrated in crypto-native applications and niche financial services. Broader adoption as a payments tool will require both technological improvements and a more uniform global regulatory environment—both of which are still developing.

BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) has surpassed the iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) in annual fee revenue, despite IVV managing significantly more assets. IBIT, with approximately $75 billion in assets under management (AUM) and an expense ratio of 0.25%, generates around $187.2 million in annual fees. In contrast, IVV, with about $624 billion in AUM but a lower expense ratio of 0.03%, brings in roughly $187.1 million annually.

This means IBIT earns slightly more—by about $100,000—despite its smaller AUM, due to its higher fee structure. The rapid growth of IBIT, launched in January 2024, reflects strong investor demand for regulated Bitcoin exposure, with $52.4 billion in inflows, the highest among U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs. The higher fees for IBIT stem from the complexities of managing a Bitcoin ETF, including custody and regulatory requirements, compared to the more established and fee-compressed equity market for IVV.

This shift highlights a growing institutional and retail interest in Bitcoin, with IBIT becoming one of the top-traded ETFs, though its volatility is converging closer to that of the S&P 500. The fact that BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) generates more fee revenue than the iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV), despite managing far fewer assets, carries significant implications for investors, the financial industry, and the broader market.

IBIT’s higher fee revenue reflects strong demand for regulated Bitcoin exposure, with $52.4 billion in inflows since its January 2024 launch. This suggests investors, both retail and institutional, are increasingly prioritizing cryptocurrency as a legitimate asset class, even at higher costs (0.25% expense ratio for IBIT vs. 0.03% for IVV). Bitcoin’s appeal as a non-correlated asset (though its volatility is converging toward the S&P 500) is driving investors to allocate capital to crypto ETFs, potentially at the expense of traditional equity ETFs like IVV.

IBIT’s 0.25% expense ratio, while modest for crypto products, is significantly higher than IVV’s 0.03%. This reflects the higher operational costs of managing Bitcoin ETFs (e.g., custody, security, regulatory compliance) and the willingness of investors to pay a premium for regulated crypto exposure. The fee revenue gap underscores how ultra-low-fee equity ETFs like IVV face margin compression in mature markets, while crypto ETFs can command higher fees due to their novelty and complexity. This could push asset managers to prioritize innovative products over traditional ones.

IBIT’s success (largest U.S. spot Bitcoin ETF by inflows) signals a maturing crypto ETF market, with BlackRock capitalizing on its brand and infrastructure to capture market share. This could spur further competition, with firms launching more crypto-related products (e.g., Ethereum ETFs, crypto index funds). BlackRock’s ability to generate significant fees from IBIT reinforces its dominance in the ETF market, potentially widening the gap between major asset managers and smaller players.

IBIT’s success highlights growing regulatory acceptance of crypto products, as spot Bitcoin ETFs provide a safer, regulated way to invest compared to direct crypto ownership. However, higher fees reflect the regulatory and operational risks asset managers face. While Bitcoin’s volatility is decreasing, it remains riskier than the S&P 500. Investors paying higher fees for IBIT may face amplified losses during crypto market downturns, raising questions about long-term sustainability.

IBIT’s fee revenue surpassing IVV underscores a shift from traditional equity investments (S&P 500) to alternative assets like Bitcoin. The S&P 500 represents established, diversified exposure to corporate earnings, while Bitcoin is a speculative, decentralized asset with no intrinsic cash flows. This divide reflects differing investor philosophies: stability and fundamentals vs. innovation and disruption.

The higher fees for IBIT (0.25%) vs. IVV (0.03%) highlight a structural divide. Traditional ETFs operate in a hyper-competitive, low-fee environment, while crypto ETFs can charge premiums due to their novelty and complexity. This could lead to a two-tiered ETF market, with crypto products commanding higher margins. Investors in IBIT are likely more risk-tolerant, seeking high-upside potential in crypto, while IVV investors prioritize stability and long-term growth. This creates a divide between speculative and conservative investors.

IBIT’s popularity may attract younger, tech-savvy retail investors and institutions with crypto expertise, while IVV appeals to a broader, more traditional investor base. However, higher fees for IBIT could disproportionately impact smaller retail investors, exacerbating wealth inequality within the crypto space. The success of IBIT reflects a divide between investors with access to regulated crypto products (via ETFs) and those in jurisdictions or economic conditions where such products are unavailable or unaffordable.

Younger investors, more comfortable with digital assets, are driving crypto ETF demand, while older generations may stick to traditional equities. This generational divide could reshape wealth distribution as crypto gains mainstream traction. IBIT bridges the gap between decentralized crypto and centralized finance, but it also highlights a philosophical divide. Some crypto purists may view ETFs as diluting Bitcoin’s ethos of decentralization, while TradFi embraces them as a way to integrate crypto into existing systems.

Jurisdictions with clear crypto ETF regulations (e.g., the U.S.) benefit from products like IBIT, while others lag, creating disparities in global investor access and market development. IBIT’s ability to generate more fees than IVV signals a pivotal moment in the financial industry, where crypto ETFs are challenging the dominance of traditional equity ETFs. This shift highlights investor enthusiasm for Bitcoin, the profitability of higher-fee crypto products, and BlackRock’s strategic pivot toward innovation.